The first of February I joined Patterson Health and Fitness.  I will admit I did so out of fear; I was afraid that the youth would have to drag their out of shape pastor off the work site when we went to Arizona on our mission trip.  Slowly but surely I have been working my way to physical fitness.  Still, I am not now or ever likely to be mistaken for a member of the Power Team.  In fact while they were breaking baseball bats, cement blocks, handcuffs and other feats of strength, I found myself praying, “God please protect them and don’t let them get hurt.”  They truly are world class athletes whose demonstrations of brute strength catch people’s attention to listen to the gospel.  I, on the other hand, am willing to work out enough to keep myself healthy, so that I can continue to be active in my ministry without letting poor health drag me down.

            The members of the Power Team asked several times, “Are you willing to do anything to share about Jesus?”  I will confess that I was willing to join facebook, so that I could see pictures of Kent Pedersen joining the Power Team on stage.  He trusted enough to lie down on a strip of nails, have a board with nails placed on his chest, a 300 pound block of ice on top of that, and then have one of the team members break it with a sledge hammer.  I do not think I trust my physical strength or ability to recuperate enough to try a stunt like that.  A fact that makes my wife, Tammy, glad to no end.  There comes a time when we are too old to attempt some things.  Does that mean I do not trust God?  No, I trust God in all things.  I simply feel that God has called me to, and gifted me with different abilities in sharing the gospel.  I use my skills as a story teller, knowledge of the scripture, experience as a pastor, relationships in the community, trust that is built by serving the community, to open doors to change people’s lives with the good news of Jesus.

            I spent eight years of college and seminary education to prepare for ministry.  I watched siblings and friends be hired for more money after only four years of schooling.  I move to where God calls me and the Bishop feels I can best serve, whether I have heard of the community or not.  It seems like I am always on call, have some demand on my time.  Yet, I would do it all over again.  I feel blessed and privileged to have served the communities I have.  I have found a community and church family I am particularly fond of in the Federated Church and Patterson.  I may not do anything to share Jesus, but I do all I can to remain effective in using the tools I do have.

Shalom,
Pastor Kevin

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